Open Threads

Just watched Behind Enemy Lines. Boy did that suck the big one. Owen Wilson, who was BRILLIANT in Bottle Rockets and The Royal Tenenbaums, is not my idea of a fighter pilot. Go back to the quirky films you know and love, Owen, and don’t get swallowed by Hollywood. Oops. Too late.

BTW- Anyone see the Young Poisoner’s Handbook? Another great film from the Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction era of good indy films.

Just watched Behind Enemy Lines.Post + Comments

I made the tragic mistake of having a huge iced mocha at 11pm. I am not sure why I did it, other than it is so hot out and I thought it would taste great. It did taste great, but now I am ready to start chewing paint chips off the wall I am so wired. So, with nothing else to do, and living alone for the first time in my life, I decided to read the papers BEFORE I wake up. It did not take long before I hit the jackpot. I am going to cut an paste this entire vacuous editorial from the NY Times, and it should serve as the Art of War (or whatever classic you choose) for conjecture and foolishness.

J. C. Watts, Into the Sunset

With minority appointees in a variety of high-profile posts – including Secretary of State Colin Powell, Housing Secretary Mel Martinez and Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser – George W. Bush has assembled the most racially diverse Republican administration in memory.

It should also be noted that every one of these individuals were chosen for their qualifications, and not their demographic appeal. Maybe Bush was not looking for a group of hacks who ‘looked like America,’ but rather was looking for the BEST QUALIFIED people to serve America. Who would have thunk that Republicans would do something like this (other than grass roots Republicans who are working every day with a wide array of minorities- ask Kevin Holtsberry about the struggle to get the school voucher program in Ohio- and btw- drop him an email and thank hi for his efforts). Unfortunately, this just does not fit the sound bites of venom and bile that many in the DNC and the NAACP love to employ with little or no disgression. Remember- according to the NAACP, Bush was almost complicit in the horrible lynching of James Byrd.

The diversity of the executive branch, however, has underscored the whiteness of the Republican delegation in Congress, which has but one black member, Representative J. C. Watts of Oklahoma.

This is such an annoying statement that I almost want to smash something. Like Gail Collins. The statement is constructed so that the reader will infer that the Republican party is racist because Congress does not have any black Republicans, while the executive branch has a number of high profile minorities. It is rather apparent that the NY Times is incapable of discerning between individuals who are elected and who are appointed. Or maybe they would just rather state that all people who vote for anything other than a black Republican are racist. If anything, this should be construed as a plus for the executive branch, who is capable of choosing appointees in a color-blind manner- not a negative against Republican voters throughout the country. After all- black candidates do have to run in order to be elected- and they usually have to run VIGOROUS campaigns against Democrats and the NAACP (although that may be redundant). Once black Republicans are elected- they will be denied entry to the Congressional Black Caucus- a bigotry towards idea, and not skin color. In the end, this is another not-so-veiled snide attack on those racist damned republicans- that means you. By the way- the Senate has only had two African-Americans since the end of the Civil War- Massachusetts Republican Ed Brooke and Carol Moseley-Braun.

He announced yesterday that he would not seek re-election in November. Mr. Watts, the fourth-ranking member of the House Republican leadership, said his goals in Congress had been accomplished and that he wished to spend more time with his family.

Sounds like valid reasons to me- but I tend to believe people at their word.

Behind these bromides

Main Entry: bro

I made the tragic mistakePost + Comments

Just finished Bernard Lewis’s What Went Wrong. A great read, and I would recommend it. Andrew Sullivan’s book review club seems to have taken off, and this sparked an idea for me. I would much rather just have a book exchange. If anyone has a book they would like to swap (I usually buy several every month), I would be glad to ship you my copy of What Went Wrong in exchange for another tome on relevant issues, both historical and political. The deal is, you send me the book, I send you the book, we are both responsible for the shipping, and then you send it on to someone else in exchange for another book in the future- a book swap club, if you will. E-mail me if you are interested.

Just finished Bernard Lewis’s WhatPost + Comments (2)

Much ado has been made about a possible realignment of Jewish voters into the Republican party, and most of it is cynical in nature and makes no attempt to understand that some things are simply not politically motivated. I am a registered Republican who has a tendency to vote libertarian, but to me, there has never been an issue regarding the defense of Israel. My support for Israel and Israelis has nothing to do with the fact that Jews may vote one way or another. The reason I support Israelis and the state of Israel is simply because it is the right thing to do. I see through the equivocation, relativism, anti-Semitism, and the other bullshit, and I simply have put my foot down on the issue in a way that previously have been hard to predict. Republicans are in support of Israel in spite of the traditionally Democrat Jewish vote, not because they are trying to swing a few votes here and there.

I am supporting Israel because it is the right thing to do. Period.

Here is the story that sparked this little blurb.

Much ado has been madePost + Comments

If you are as depressed as I am about Layne, Welch, and everything else, just remember that we are still blessed with William Quick and Stephen Green and Megan McCardle and Martin Devon and so many others who do great work.

And we always have Jeff Goldstein and Andrea Harris to say what you were thinking but didn’t have the balls to say.

There are so many others- LGF, Daimnation, etc. I am here to tell you that the status of blogging is good.

If you are as depressedPost + Comments

From the Sgt. Schultz files:

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE MOBILIZED AS OF JUNE 26
This week the Army announces an increase of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force each announce decreases of reservists. The net collective result is 177 more reservists than last week.

At any given time, Services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 34,478; Naval Reserve, 8,760; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 36,773; Marine Corps Reserve, 4,096; and the Coast Guard Reserve 1,485. This brings the total Reserve and National Guard on active duty to 85,592 including both units and individual augmentees.

This mobilization appears routine and mundane enough to not be a sign that Iraq will be hit soon. The mobilization to look for will be a large increase in sea and airlift capacity and reserve support component activation.

From the Sgt. Schultz files:Post + Comments

Via Drudge:

Another meme that will never die: George Bush is stupid, Democrats say.

If you hadn’t read in this newspaper, Rep. Diane E. Watson, California Democrat, proclaimed President Bush has a low IQ – “of 88.”
“That tells you something,” she said, insisting that a “shadow government” consisting of Mr. Bush’s “father and the guy who calls himself the vice president” was actually making the decisions in this country.
“The ’88’ certainly isn’t making the decisions,” she said.

Yawn. The same old tired assertions. I will, however, give Rep. Watson for a nice two-fer. Bush is stupid, and there is a shadow government. Double Yawn.

Via Drudge: Another meme thatPost + Comments